Strange how going to extremes causes paradoxes. Perhaps people emulate more than the message. Society is increasingly orientated towards hype media designed sell products in a competitive market. Now society is extremely competitive.
Similar to an abused child, the parent uses force to teach good morals, yet the child emulates abuse. Suzanne Vega's "Luka" roughly explains this point. Meant to invoke sympathy for the child, yet life reveals underlying message not as heavily exploited. In the line, "Just don't ask me what it was," the child makes a direct statement telling someone how to behave. Later lyrics state, "They only hit until you cry. After that you don't ask why." Understanding why a person should or should not do something is overridden with understanding abuse makes people accept whatever is said.
Acknowledging how people struggle against the mainstream in "Preeminence of Physical Attraction" an obvious paradox is developed. While mentioning trend marketers create demand through generating a sense of urgency, there are two links to web pages explaining how to be naturally attractive. The only redeemer is in acknowledging the paradox and deciding to participate in the action.
Struggling against the common ranking system by cutting off hair to actively become competitive in another arena may prove fruitless and reinforces common beliefs. While consciously engaging in the competitive world of hype, many people are influenced subconsciously. This results in an emerging attitude; wherein, people no longer admit mistakes or shortcomings. It is imperative to remain in charge all the time, promoting capabilities in order to protect themselves from other people engaging in the same activity.
Hype has told us to be thin with symmetric features. Therefore, another group emerges to promote asymmetrical features. Hype states what fashions people should wear. Therefore, another group emerges to promote thrift spending or intellectual pursuits. In other words, they hype the validity of their existence.
There is no actual paradox. Hype gains support from their target market and resistance alternate subcultures. People emulate the action, while resisting the direct message. Now groups of chubby women organize against other women to gain a respectable position in society. Both men and women are establishing an image before graduating from high school. Many think media trends are only affecting women; however, women are beginning to develop an aesthetic image of a competitive man.
A person's appearance determines social acceptance though this image is not standardized. Amongst women, it is common to be shunned for falling below an acceptable level of attractiveness. It is difficult to shop for appearance when it equals respect, friendship, opportunities and a functional life. Men who were shunned begin to develop other preferences until establishing a competitive niche. After achieving acceptance a person only improves on maintaining a dangerously competitive atmosphere.
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